Digital literacies refer to the capabilities needed to live, learn, and work in a digital society. They encompass more than just functional IT skills, including new behaviors, practices, and digital identities. Digital literacies are context-specific and vary between individuals and occupations. They include components like digital access, ICT literacy, web literacy, media literacy, data literacy, information literacy, and digital intelligence. A lack of digital literacies can result in a loss of human agency and opportunities in an increasingly digital world.

1. Digital Literacies
“Digital literacies are those
capabilities which fit an
individual for living, learning and
working in a digital society.
Digital literacy looks beyond
functional IT skills to describe a
richer set of digital behaviors,
practices and identities”
www.jisc.ac.uk

2. Digital Literacies
• The term is plural; there is more than one
• Not just a set of technical skills; new behaviors,
attitudes and sensibilities
– You can be tech savvy and not digitally literate
• Digital literacies are contextually relevant
– They are not universal; not one size fits all
– The digital literacies needed by one person/occupation
are not the same needed by another

3. Digital Literacies: The Components
Digital Access
ICT Literacy
Web
Literacy
Media
Literacy
Data
Literacy
Information
Literacy
Digital Intelligence
Digital
Readiness
IncreasingHumanAgency

4. The High Cost of Digital Illiteracy: Loss of Agency
Human agency: the ability to act and assert ourselves in our environment
• Digital literacy skills are required for everyday tasks such as banking, shopping,
communicating with government agencies, etc.
• Technological unemployment
• Loss of opportunity
– Searching for and applying for work requires online and computer skills
– 70% of all U.S. jobs will require some ICT by 2016 (McCain, 2009).
• Lack of access
– Lack of basic computer/digital literacy skills are a barrier to employment, re-employment,
and higher education.
• Lack of digital literacy skills leads to lower wages, contributes to poverty and
expanding the digital divide
• Unprepared for the future of work